Watch match highlights as incredible defensive effort seals

Scotland had earlier survived a scare when they were pushed all the way by Samoa, finally clinching second place in Pool B and a last-eight berth against the Springboks with a 36-33 win.

“We beat South Africa 11 months ago and the game before that out there we performed extremely well and could easily have come away with a win there”, Warburton said.

But while Australian fans desperately crave attacking rugby, it was courage and guts that will win back supporters after the players muscled up and beat a Welsh storm on Saturday night (Sunday morning AEDT). “That’s what great teams are made off. It’s disappointing we lost today but I back ourselves next week”.

Wales coach Warren Gatland described the defence as “courageous” while comparisons with England’s 13-man resistance to New Zealand in Wellington in 2003 and even the British Army’s defence of Rorke’s Drift in the face of overwhelming Zulu forces in 1879 were in the air.

“We should have capitalised when they were down to 13 men, but we didn’t, and you have got to move on”.

The 24-year-old became the sixth member of the squad that started the tournament to be ruled out by injury, following Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Webb, Scott Williams, Hallam Amos and Cory Allen.

“They (South Africa) faltered in their first match, but, like a lot of teams, they have grown throughout the tournament”.

Fly-half Bernard Foley kicked the Wallabies to victory but it was Australia’s commitment without the ball where they most impressed. Wales did get over the line but three times they were to be denied.

“It was a really tight Test match and I don’t think there was a lot of difference between the two teams. We’ve got to match them physicality upfront and scramble in the scrumhalf and if you can do this, you have a good competition against them”. Once again the Wallabies had managed to absorb everything that Wales could throw at them and emerge victorious by a mere nine points.

“We are expecting a physical game, and they have been impressive after the opening weekend defeat against Japan”.

Australia spent the best part of ten minutes down to 13 men and despite Wales spending the entirety of that time inside their 22 metre line, nothing would give.

“But if we were to go all the way, then that period (in defence) could certainly be seen as a pivotal moment”.

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Cheika added: “I liked tonight”. It was just getting stuck in and working hard for each other and trying to resist the opposition. The Scots have won two of their last three clashes, both by three points or fewer.

He said: “We’ve lost two games against Scotland and maybe that was because the team thought it was going to be easier than other games. We won’t be thinking that this week”. “David took a bang on his calf but it doesn’t seem too bad”, he said.

Cheika said he would have taken Folau off had he not already used all his back reserves.

“He seems OK in the dressing room”.